To define the colon and rectum, the colon is what we call (the large intestine) and the rectum is the last part of the digestive system, and the cancer that affects the colon is to define the colon and the rectum, so the colon is what we call (the large intestine) and the rectum is the last part of the digestive system, and the cancer that affects the colon and rectum is the most It is common in men and the third in women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and investigations are very important to discover the tumor at an early stage.
Screening for colorectal cancer is a method that enables doctors to detect cancer or polyps that may turn into cancer. Investigative detection is in healthy people and the goal is to find and remove benign tumors before they become cancerous tumors, or to find cancer early before it grows or spreads, which increases the chances of recovery, God willing.
Screening for colorectal cancer is recommended at the age of fifty in healthy people and at an earlier age for those with a higher risk, such as having a family history, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn''s disease, and the detection is by one of the following methods:
Colonoscopy every 10 years.
Virtual CT colonoscopy every 5 years.
Sigmoid colonoscopy every 5 years.
An enema (barium) every 5 years.
Stool blood test every year.
Periods are shorter for high-risk people.
Determine with your doctor the appropriate method for you, and remembering the examination procedure is very important, whatever the method.
The most common symptoms of colon and rectal cancer are
A change in bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea).
Feeling tired and weak.
Low iron level (iron deficiency anemia).
Change the color of the stool to a black color, or the passage of blood with the stool.
Sometimes abdominal pain.
Diagnosis
The doctor begins to worry that a person may have colon or rectal cancer if they have one or more of the symptoms listed above. In this case, the doctor usually examines the colon with a colonoscopy, where the endoscope can detect tumors and take a biopsy (removing a piece of tissue for examination) to confirm the nature of the tumor.
Tumor stage
Once colon and rectal cancer is diagnosed, the next step is to determine its stage, and staging the tumor is a medical system used to describe the aggressiveness and spread of cancer, and the stage of colorectal cancer is determined based on whether there are:
Signs of cancer spreading by clinical examination.
Ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, or other imaging tests.
Examination of the cancer with a microscope after removing it surgically.
The stages of colorectal cancer are divided into four stages: the first stage (cancer that is localized but not in the entire wall of the intestine), until it grades into the fourth stage (the spread of cancer to distant organs, such as the liver)
Cancer treatment depends on the stage of the disease, and the first three stages are referred to as localization. The first and second stages are treated surgically with or without chemotherapy, and the third stage is treated surgically with chemotherapy.
As for the fourth stage, it is called the advanced stage and is generally treated with chemical medicine, and in special cases the patient benefits from surgical intervention.
Colon cancer treatment
Surgery is the first step of treatment, as the diseased part of the colon is removed with surrounding lymph nodes removed to determine the stage of the disease.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is given to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells, and even after removing the cancer surgically, cancer cells can remain in the body, which increases the risk of cancer returning, the goal of chemotherapy is to eliminate these cancer cells to increase the chance of recovery, God willing. This type of treatment is called adjuvant therapy, and adjuvant therapy usually lasts six months using scheduled protocols. The attending physician will determine the appropriate chemotherapy protocol with the patient.
Rectal cancer treatment
As in colon cancer, treatment varies according to the stage of the disease. In the first stage, surgical treatment is sufficient, due to the anatomical difference of the rectum from the colon. Radiation chemotherapy is recommended with surgery for the second and third stages. Radiation chemotherapy before surgery helps reduce the size of the tumor before removing it, reduces the risk of local cancer recurrence, and may reduce the chances of the need for permanent postoperative anastomosis. Oral tablets, if chemotherapy is not given before the operation, then it is given after the operation for the second and third stages.
The fourth stage of the disease is treated with chemical medicine, with surgical intervention in special cases.
Follow-up after treatment
It is necessary to continue the follow-up with the doctor after the end of the treatment period on a regular basis for a few years with scheduled periodic examinations that include colonoscopy, x-rays, and examination of the tumor index in the blood (CEA) to detect the return of the disease, God forbid, at an early stage.
Colorectal cancer and family history
Having colon and rectal cancer in a family member means that the rest of the family may be at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Screening for colon and rectal cancer begins at the age of fifty to detect the disease in early stages, but if one of the parents, brother or sister, or one of the children suffers from colon and rectal cancer at a young age (before the age of 60 years), or two relatives are diagnosed in any Age, colorectal cancer should begin detection earlier, which is usually at the age of forty, or 10 years younger than the age of the affected relative at the time of diagnosis, whichever comes first.
In rare cases, there are certain genetic conditions that increase the risk of colon and rectal cancer, so it is important to inform the doctor of a detailed family history to perform additional procedures if necessary.
